Heavily armed Zimbabwean soldiers are reportedly still deployed at former first lady Grace Mugabe's farm in Mazowe, and a Zanu-PF congress is set to endorse Emmerson Mnangagwa as party leader after Robert Mugabe ouster.

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Dar es Salaam - Tanzanian president John Magufuli has condemned the killing of a British conservationist after his helicopter was shot down while he chased suspected poachers, saying five people have been arrested.

Briton Roger Gower, aged 37, was killed when his helicopter was gunned down by suspected poachers during a patrol of the Maswa Game Reserve in northern Tanzania, close to the world famous Serengeti National Park, on January 29.

Gower, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund, had been tracking poachers after spotting the carcasses of recently killing elephants.

"This is a sad incident that must be strongly condemned," Magufuli said in a statement, ordering all those involved to be "aggressively pursued and brought to justice."

The statement said five suspects have been arrested and were being questioned by police.

Magufuli vowed to boost efforts to protect wildlife.

"I personally support the fight against poaching in our game reserves and national parks, let us join hands against the poachers," added Magufuli.

Photographs of the crashed helicopter show twisted metal, as well as apparent bullet holes in the fuselage, and smears of blood on the pilot's seat.

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